What construction debris removal involves
Construction debris removal is the collection, sorting, hauling and disposal of material from building, renovating or demolishing a space. EPA’s list of common construction and demolition (C&D) materials includes concrete, wood, asphalt (including roofing shingles), gypsum drywall, metals, brick, glass, plastics, salvaged building components such as doors, windows and plumbing fixtures, and earth, rock and stumps from site clearing.
It differs from commercial junk removal, which clears furniture, fixtures and equipment. At a commercial site it usually covers:
- Project hauling: roll-off containers or scheduled haul-away during a remodel or fit-out
- Interior demolition debris: drywall, studs, ceiling tile, flooring and millwork
- Post-construction cleanout: leftover material, packaging and scrap at turnover
- Damage debris: material left after a roof, wall or storefront repair
- Separation for recycling: metal, clean wood, cardboard and concrete kept out of the mixed load where local markets accept them
EPA reports that about 600 million tons of C&D debris were generated in the United States in 2018. Just over 455 million tons went to a next use, mainly as aggregate, and just under 145 million tons went to landfills.
Rules that apply to construction debris removal
Housekeeping on the job. OSHA’s construction housekeeping standard, 29 CFR 1926.25, requires form and scrap lumber with protruding nails and other debris to be kept clear of work areas, passageways and stairs. Combustible scrap must be removed at regular intervals during construction, containers for garbage and for oily, flammable or hazardous wastes must have covers, and garbage must be disposed of at frequent and regular intervals.
Moving debris off upper floors. Under 29 CFR 1926.252, material dropped more than 20 feet to any point outside the exterior walls of a building must go through an enclosed chute of wood or equivalent material. Where debris is dropped through floor holes without a chute, the area below must be enclosed with barricades at least 42 inches high, set at least 6 feet back from the projected edge of the opening above, with warning signs posted at each level. Solvent waste, oily rags and flammable liquids are kept in fire-resistant covered containers until removed. These obligations fall on the contractor performing the work.
Asbestos before renovation or demolition. EPA’s asbestos NESHAP requires a thorough inspection where a demolition or renovation will occur before work begins. Notice to the delegated agency, often a state agency, is required before any demolition, and before renovations that disturb more than a threshold amount of regulated asbestos-containing material. Suspect tile, mastic or pipe insulation stays out of general debris until the result is known.
Lamps and ballasts. EPA’s demolition guidance, written for large residential projects but applicable in practice to commercial tear-outs, advises that fluorescent and other mercury-containing lamps be isolated, labeled and taken to a mercury recycler rather than crushed, and that fluorescent light ballasts without a “No PCBs” label be treated as containing PCBs, handled separately from other demolition waste and taken to an appropriate facility. The same guidance calls for light systems to be disposed of properly before demolition, and state environmental agencies set local disposal rules.
Hauler registration. Some jurisdictions register haulers of construction debris separately from general trade waste. In New York City, for example, a business that removes only waste from demolition, construction, alteration or excavation must hold a Class 2 registration from the Business Integrity Commission, renewed every two years, and may not operate until it is approved. Hauler, disposal and recycling rules vary by state and municipality and are confirmed for each location before dispatch.
Preventive maintenance schedule for construction debris removal
Debris removal is event-driven, but the controls around it are not. Planned checks keep combustible scrap from building up, keep exits clear and produce the disposal records a landlord, insurer or regulator may ask for.
| Task | Recommended frequency | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Clear scrap lumber and debris from work areas, passageways and stairs | As work progresses | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.25(a) and 1926.252(c) |
| Remove combustible scrap and debris | At regular intervals during construction | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.25(b) |
| Dispose of garbage and other waste | At frequent and regular intervals | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.25(c) |
| Keep covers on containers holding oily, flammable or hazardous waste | At all times | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.25(c) and 1926.252(e) |
| Thorough asbestos inspection of areas to be renovated or demolished | Before each project | EPA asbestos NESHAP |
| Remove and separate lamps and ballasts | Before each demolition | EPA guidance on light systems and demolition |
| Inspect container placement, fill level, covers and surrounding area | At each container swap | Facility First program default, adjusted per site |
| Reconcile disposal and recycling tickets against invoices | Monthly during active projects | Facility First program default, adjusted per site |
| Confirm hauler registration, license and insurance are current | Annually and at each renewal | Facility First program default, adjusted per site |
The authority having jurisdiction, the property’s insurer and the landlord can require more frequent removal or additional controls, and each location’s schedule is set in its program and recorded on every visit.
Signs construction debris removal is needed
- Containers overfilled or left uncovered
- Scrap or offcuts in corridors, stairs or near exits
- A fit-out reaching turnover with material still on site
- Suspect ceiling tile, flooring or insulation found during a tear-out
Records to keep
- Asbestos inspection report for each area renovated or demolished, and any notice filed with the delegated agency
- Hauler registration or license and certificate of insurance
- Container delivery and pickup log, with photos of placement and fill level
- Weight or load tickets from each transfer station, landfill or recycler
- Recycling receipts by material stream
- Lamp and ballast recycling or disposal receipts
- Before and after photos of the work area at close-out
How Facility First runs construction debris removal across a portfolio
- Request. The location submits the scope, photos and dates, flagging suspect materials, lamps or ballasts.
- Triage and approval. Facility First confirms the material streams, local hauler and disposal rules, container placement and any landlord limits. Work within the client’s approval limits proceeds; larger hauls are quoted for approval first. See what NTE means.
- Dispatch. A vetted local hauling provider with the required registration, licenses and insurance receives the work order.
- Completion. The provider photographs the area, records each load and collects tickets.
- Verification and invoice. Facility First checks the cleared area and paperwork against the request, files the records on the location’s history in PostControl and invoices in one format.
Where a demolition or damaged storefront leaves a location unsecured, McCray can post an officer until the work is complete. See Security by McCray.
What affects the cost of construction debris removal
- Volume, weight and type of material
- Container size, number of swaps and rental days
- Separation for recycling versus a mixed load
- Asbestos inspection results and any special handling
- Lamps, ballasts and other items requiring separate disposal
- Access: floor level, freight elevators, chutes, loading docks and street permits
- Timing, including after-hours or weekend hauls
- Local disposal, tipping and recycling fees
Construction debris removal for retail stores, restaurants and offices
Retail stores. Remodels in shopping centers follow the landlord’s rules on dock times, container placement and after-hours work, and debris stays out of trading areas.
Restaurants. Kitchen remodels produce tile, stainless steel and ductwork. Metal is separated for recycling, and debris is kept away from food areas still in use.
Offices. Renovations in multi-tenant buildings depend on freight elevator and loading dock bookings, and corridors used by other tenants stay clear.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as construction debris?
EPA lists concrete, wood, asphalt, drywall, metals, brick, glass, plastics, salvaged doors, windows and fixtures, and earth and rock from site clearing as common construction and demolition materials.
How often should construction debris be removed during a project?
OSHA requires debris to be removed from the immediate work area as work progresses, combustible scrap to be removed at regular intervals, and garbage to be disposed of at frequent and regular intervals. The exact schedule is set for each project and recorded in the program.
Does a hauler need a special license for construction debris?
It depends on the jurisdiction. New York City, for example, requires a Business Integrity Commission registration for businesses that remove only construction and demolition debris, renewed every two years.
What happens if asbestos is suspected?
EPA’s asbestos NESHAP requires a thorough inspection before renovation or demolition. Suspect material stays in place until the result is known and is then handled under the applicable rules, separately from general debris.
Can construction debris be recycled?
Often, yes. EPA notes that asphalt, concrete and rubble are often recycled into aggregate or new asphalt and concrete products, and that wood, metals and cardboard also have recycling markets. Availability depends on the local market.
How is construction debris removal priced?
Pricing depends on volume, material type, container needs, access, timing and local disposal fees. Work within the program’s approval limits proceeds, and larger hauls are quoted for approval first.
Sources
- EPA: Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Materials
- OSHA: 29 CFR 1926.25, Housekeeping
- OSHA: 29 CFR 1926.252, Disposal of Waste Materials
- EPA: Overview of the Asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
- EPA: Light Systems and Demolition
- NYC Business: Registration for the Removal of Construction and Demolition Debris (C&D Registration)